Printing plate treating apparatus



Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. W W

ATTORNEYS;

Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Shee t 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 ATTORNEYS.

M T m m WWZW Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATINGAPPARATUS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,072,049 PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS WilliamC. Huebner, P.0. Box 490, Mamaroneck, N.Y. Filed Sept. 8, 1960, Ser. N0.54,641 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-147) This invention relates to apparatus formoistening air with water vapor or other liquids or solutions and fordirecting the air thus treated to the surface of a printing plate havinghygroscopic areas. This application relates to subject matter such asdisclosed in my application, Serial No. 795,211 filed February 24, 1959,now US. Patent No. 3,025,789, for supplying moisture to a printing platesuch as disclosed in my other pending application No. 790,586, filedFebruary 2, 1959.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of an apparatus embodyingmy invention for treating air and directing the same to a printingplate.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof taken approximatelyon line .22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the side of the apparatus shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale on line 44,FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 55, FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 66, FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof on line 7-7, FIG. 5.

My apparatus may be mounted on any desired part of a printing press butpreferably is arranged at a side of the printing plate or roll inadvance of the usual inking roller. 10 represents a printing roll havinga printing plate 11 mounted on the surface thereof. My apparatus extendscompletely across the printing plate to project treated air to all partsof the printing plate as it rotates with the roll, and my apparatus maybe mounted on the frame of a printing press in any desired manner, notshown. The printing plate may be made in accordance with my saidapplication No. 790,586 and consequently has an inkrepelling surfacewhich must be kept moist in order to continue to repel ink applied tothe printing plate by means of the inking roller.

The mixing of the air with a liquid takes place in an elongated,box-like housing 14, the discharge end of which terminates at theprinting roll 10. The opposite end of the housing 14 is provided with anend plate or wall 15 provided with apertures through which the dischargeends of a plurality of fans or blowers 16 extend for discharging airinto the housing so that air will flow uniformly in all parts of thehousing. This air must be provided with sulficient moisture so that thehygroscopic portions of the printing plate 11 may be kept insuificiently moist condition to repel printing ink, and in theconstruction illustrated by way of example, this moisture is supplied tothe air in the form of steam generated within the housing intermediateof the ends thereof. .This steam generating equipment includes a heatedroll 18 which extends across the housing 14 from one side to the other.This roll may be heated in any suitable or desired manner, for example,by means of electric heating elements 19 lying in a trough or otherstationary support 20 extending from one end to the other of the heatedroll 18, which revolves about the heating elements. This roll is made ofa suitable metal, the exterior of which may be moistened to producesteam or vapor.

The moistening of the heated roll may be effected in any desired manner.In the construction shown I have provided a pair of moisture-carryingrolls at opposite sides "ice of the heated roll and extending from sideto side of the housing 14. Each of these moistening rolls includes acentral, stationary pipe or conduit 24 formed to receive water or otherliquid at an end thereof. This pipe or conduit has a series of dischargeapertures 25 on the upper face thereof through which liquid may bedischarged to an inner revolving distributing cylinder 27 Thisdistributing cylinder has a series of apertures 28 therein fordischarging liquid to an outer cylinder 60 which also has aperturestherein through which liquid may pass to a suitable covering fabric 31.The rolls 27 and 30 revolve so that liquid discharged to the same fromthe conduit 24 may be readily distributed to all parts of the coveringfabric 31. This fabric may be of any desired type, but is preferably inthe form of one or more sheets of pervious material, such as spun glassor asbestos wicking, which may be secured in place by means of wire orother securing means 32 which may be wound spirally around the asbestoscover 31 to hold the same securely on the roll 30.

The heated roll and the moisture-carrying rolls are rotated, preferablyin opposite directions of rotation, as indicated by the arrows inFIG. 1. Consequently the steam formed by contact with one of themoisture-carrying rolls and the heated roll will be deflected downwardlyin the housing, and the steam formed by the other moisture- -ca1ryingroll and the heated roll will be projectedupwardly into the upper partof the housing so that all parts of the air currents delivered by theblowers 16 will receive steam, whether passing above or below the rolls.

The rotation of the three rolls may be effected in any suitable ordesired manner from a drive shaft 35 extending into the housing 14. Thisdrive shaft has a gear 36 mounted thereon which meshes with a gear 37rotatably mounted on the liquid supply tube 24 of one of themoisture-carrying rolls andsecured to the outer cylinder 30 thereof.This gear in turn meshes with another gear 38 rotatable about a fixedaxis concentric with the axis of the heated tube 18, for example with atube 39 secured to and forming an extension of the heated tube. Thisgear is secured to heating roll 18 and in turn meshes with a gear 40secured to the outer cylinder of the other moisturecarrying roll. Thesethree rolls are rotatably supported on the opposite side wall of thehousing.

The heating elements 19 in the heated roll may receive current throughconductors 43 from any source of power and liquid may be supplied tomoisture-carrying rolls in any suitable manner, for example by means ofpipes or conduits 44 which are connected with suitable conduits on theexterior of the apparatus leading from the discharge end of the pump 45.Since it is not desired .to discharge liquid through the apertures 25under pressure, the conduits 24 are provided at the ends thereofopposite to the inlet pipes 44 with discharge pipes 46, which areconnected to a return pipe 47 leading to a tank or reservoir 48 whichhas a discharge pipe 49 leading to the pump 45.

Since all of the liquid contacted with the heated roll 18 may not bevaporized and since a part of the steam formed within the housing 18 maybe condensed, means are provided in the lower part of the housing forcollecting the condensed and non-vaporized liquid. For this purpose thelower part of the housing is provided with a double floor, the upperfloor 50 being provided with drain holes 51 through which liquid andexcess vapor may pass into a space or jacket 52 formed below the floor50. The moisture collected between the floors is drained into pipes '53and discharged into another tank or reservoir 55, through the medium ofa vacuum pump 56. This liquid may be filtered and again used in theapparatus or may be otherwise disposed of.

The tank 48 has a discharge opening in the lower end thereof controlledby means of a valve 57 leading to the pipe 49 which connects with thepump 45. By means of this valve, the quantity of liquid supplied to theapparatus may also be controlled. Also when this valve 57 and anothervalve 58 leading to the top of the tank are closed, the tank can bereadily disconnected from the apparatus and replaced by another tank.

It has been found that the best results can be obtained by mounting themoisture-carrying rolls in spaced rela tion to the heated roll and formoving the heated roll and the moisture-carrying rolls intermittentlyinto contact with each other. Any suitable means may be employed forthis purpose and in the construction shown I have mounted themoisturecarrying rolls in such a manner that they may move toward andfrom the heated roll. I have arranged the two moisture-carrying rolls onoscillatory blocks or plates located between partitions 66 and 61 of theside walls of the housing of the apparatus. The inner pipes or conduits24 of the moisture-carrying rolls are secured in these blocks, which inthe construction shown include upper and lower parts '62 and 63 whichare suitably secured to each other vby means of bolts 64, to permit thetwo halves of the blocks to be separated so that conduits 24 and themoisture carrying rolls may be positioned on or removed from theapparatus.

These blocks on which the moisture carrying rolls are mounted arepivoted on rods or shafts 65 which permit the blocks to be swung towardand from the heated roll. I also provide suitable resilient devices suchas springs 66 which are mounted on similar blocks 67 stationarilymounted between the partitions 60 and 61 of the side walls andsupporting the heated roll 18. These springs act on the blocks to urgethem away from the heated roll.

The moving of the blocks toward the heated roll may be effected in anysuitable manner. In the construction shown for this purpose I haveprovided a pair of slide rods 70 extending transversely of the housing,those shown being arranged between the two parts of the floor of thehousing. These rods have secured thereto wedges or cams 71 which extendupwardly through slots in the upper part 50 of the floor and haveinclined upper surfaces which cooperate with rollers 72 which arejournaled on the lower parts 63 of the oscillatory blocks. Consequentlyas the wedges move crosswise of the housing, the rollers ride on theupper inclined surfaces of these wedges or cams and swing the blockscarrying the moisture carrying rolls against the action of the springs66 into engagement with the heated roll.

The back and forth movement of the slide rods may be effected in anysuitable manner, for example by means of a yoke 80 pivoted intermediateof its ends at 81 on the extension 82 of the frame of the apparatus. Theopposite ends of the yoke are connected at 83 to the ends of the sliderods 70. Consequently by swinging the yoke alternately in oppositedirections about its pivot 81, the slide rods are moved back and forth.

Any suitable or desired means may be employed for imparting oscillatingmotion to the yoke 80, and in the construction shown for this purpose Ihave provided a cam 85 the peripheral surface of which cooperates with aroller 86 pivoted on one end of the yoke 80. The cam moves the end ofthe yoke on which the roller 86 is pivoted in one direction and a spring87 urges the cam in the opposite direction.

Means are also provided for directing the flow of humidified air toportions of the printing plate in varying amounts, depending upon themoisture requirements of different areas of the printing plate. In theconstruction shown for this purpose, see particularly FIG. 1, aplurality of upright vanes or deflectors 90 are provided, the ends ofwhich are suitably pivoted in holes or apertures formed in plates $8secured to the upper and lower walls 91 and 50 of the housing, and eachvane is adjustable independently of the others by means of a handle orknob 93 having a toothed or notched periphery. The notches of theperiphery cooperate with a detent 94 which extends partly into any ofthe notches or recesses 96 for l releasably holding the vanes in theiradjusted positions.

Similarly, it may be desired to deflect the current of humidified airdownwardly or upwardly, and for this purpose additional vanes ordeflectors 100 may be provided having their ends pivoted in the sidewalls of the housing. The adjustment of these vanes may be effected inthe same manner as described in connection with the upright vanes.

By means of the construction described a very effective humidifying ofthe air passing to the printing plate results. By contacting themoisture carrying rolls at intervals with the heated roll, the heatedroll acquires a much higher temperature than would be the case if themoisture carrying rolls were continuously in contact with the heatedroll. This also makes it possible to include in the water supplied tothe apparatus certain substances which also become vaporized and arereadily taken up by the hygroscopic portions of the printing plate. Evenif certain salts are supplied in solution to the heated roll, the rapidevaporation of liquid results in driving of these salt particles intothe air currents passing through the housing so that these particles arecarried to the printing plate with the steam or vapor.

The housing is constructed in such a manner that the mechanism withinthe same is readily accessible. For example the housing may include alid or top 91 which covers the major portions of the housing and towhich portions of the side walls are secured so that they are raisedwhen the lid. or cover is raised. For this purpose the side walls aredivided into upper and lower parts approximately on a plane extendingthrough the axes of the heated and liquid carrying rolls and of thedrive shaft 35. In order to hold the upper and lower parts of thehousing of the apparatus securely in fixed relation to each other, bolts106 are provided at the four corners of the top. These bolts extend downbetween the partitions 60 and 61 of the side walls of the housingthrough plates or blocks 108 and 109 arranged between the partitions ofthe side walls. These plates or blocks are formed in two parts, theupper parts being secured to the lid or cover and the lower parts beingsecured to the lower part of the housing. The bolts 106' engage threadedholes in the lower parts of the blocks 108 and 109 for securely clampingthe upper and lower wall parts together and for readily releasing, theupper wall parts when it is desired to obtain access into the interiorof the apparatus. The upper halves of the plates or blocks 67 are alsosecured to the upper parts of the side walls and are consequently'lifted when the lid or cover is lifted, this also releasing the bearings110 through which the drive shaft extends. Consequently when the lid orcover is removed, the upper halves 62 of the blocks which support theliquid carrying rolls are left in place and the upper halves of theseblocks can readily be removed by releasing the screws or bolts 64 andthen lifting the upper halves of these blocks or plates upwardly.

In replacing the lid and sidewall parts of the apparatus, dowels 112 arepreferably provided at the juncture of the upper and lower parts of theplates or blocks 108 and 109 for accurately positioning these two partsof the housing of the apparatus before the bolts 106 are tightened.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by thoseskilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention, asexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing having oneside thereof terminating at and open to said press plate and out ofcontact therewith, heating means in said housing extending crosswisethereof, a moisture containing member at a side of said heating meansand movable into position to supply moisture to said heating means toform vapor, means for discharging said vapor through the open side ofsaid housing to said printing plate and suction means along one edge ofsaid open side adjacent to the press plate for opposing the escape ofhumidified air through the space between said press plate and saidhousing.

2. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing having anopen side terminating at said press plate and out of contact therewith,heating means in said housing and including a roll extending about thesame and heated therefrom and rotatable about its axis, a pair of rollsat opposite sides of said heated roll and having their peripheriescarrying a liquid and movable into contact with said heated roll to forma vapor, means for discharging said vapor from said housing to saidprinting plate and suction means along one edge of said open sideadjacent to the press plate for opposing the escape of humidified airthrough the space between said press plate and said housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and including means for moving saidheated roll and said moisture carrying rolls into contact to form vapor.

4. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminatingat said press plate, a revolving heated roll, liquid carrying rolls atopposite sides of said heated roll, means for rotating said liquidcarrying rolls in the same direction of rotation and for rotating saidheated roll in the opposite direction of rotation, and means forintermittently bringing the peripheries of said heated and liquidcarrying rolls into contact.

5. An apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminatingat one end at said press plate, a heated roll in said housing, a liquidcarrying roll movable into contact with said heated roll for vaporizingsome of the liquid, said liquid carrying roll including an innerstationary duct having discharge openings for the liquid, said liquidcarrying roll including an outer perforated cylinder which receivesliquid from said duct, and a porous covering on said cylinder whichbecomes permeated with said liquid and which contacts with said heatedroll.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which the cover of said outercylinder is in the form of asbestos Wicking, and means forintermittently moving said liquid carrying roll and said heated rollinto contact.

7. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminatingat said press plate, a revolving heated roll, liquid carrying rolls atopposite sides of said heated roll, means for intermittently bringingthe peripheries of said heated and liquid carrying rolls into contact toproduce vapor, means for rotating said liquid carrying rolls in the samedirection of rotation and for rotating said heated roll in the oppositedirection of rotation to deflect vapor from one of the liquid carryingrolls downwardly and from the other liquid carrying roll upwardly, and aplurality of vanes at the discharge end of said housing and adjustableindependently of each other for controlling the movement of humidifiedair to various parts of the printing plate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 and in which some of the vanes arepositioned upright in said housing and other vanes are positionedhorizontally.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 and including a notched member rigidlyconnected with each vane, and a spring pressed detent cooperating withthe notches to reieasably hold the vanes in positions in which they aremanually set.

10. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminatingat said press plate, heating means in said housing and including a rollextending about the same and heated therefrom and rotatable about itsaxis, and a pair of rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll andhaving their peripheries carrying a liquid and movable into contact withsaid heated roll to form a vapor, and means for discharging said vaporfrom said housing to said printing plate, and means for revolving saidliquid carrying rolls in opposite directions to cause one roll todeflect vapor into the upper portion of said housing and to cause theother roll to deflect vapor into the lower portion of said housing.

11. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminatingat said press plate, heating means in said housing and including a rollextending about the same and heated therefrom and rotatable about itsaxis, and a pair of rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll andhaving their peripheries carrying a liquid and movable into contact withsaid heated roll to form a vapor, and means for discharging said vaporfrom said housing to said printing plate, and means for moving each ofsaid liquid carrying rolls intermittently into contact with said heatedroll.

12. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopicareas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminatingat said press plate, heating means in said housing, means for contactingsaid heating means with a liquid to form a vapor, and means for movingair and the vapor thus formed in said housing toward said printingplate, said housing includinga cover and sides, the upper portions ofsaid sides being secured to and movable upwardly with said cover toprovide access to the interior of the lower portions of said side wallsforming a fixed part of said housing, means for securing said cover andthe parts mounted thereon to said lower portions of said side walls, aseries of rolls arranged in said housing and having their axes in asubstantially horizontal plane, the upper and lower portions of saidhousing terminating at said plane to permit the cover to be removedwithout moving said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS637,578 Hett Nov. 21, 1899 1,335,026 Pitkin Mar. 30, 1920 2,108,984Grembecki Feb. 22, 1938 2,873,667 Mandel et al Feb. 7, 1959

1. APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING A PRINTING PRESS PLATE HAVING HYGROSCOPICAREAS, TO HUMIDIFIED AIR, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING A HOUSING HAVING ONESIDE THEREOF TERMINATING AT AND OPEN TO SAID PRESS PLATE AND OUT OFCONTACT THEREWITH, HEATING MEANS IN SAID HOUSING EXTENDING CROSSWISETHEREOF, A MOISTURE CONTAINING MEMBER AT A SIDE OF SAID HEATING MEANSAND MOVABLE INTO POSITION TO SUPPLY MOISTURE TO SAID HEATING MEANS TOFORM VAPOR, MEANS FOR DIS-